Pole position
There is something strangely patronising and uncomfortable about warning the UK is about to be overtaken economically by Poland. It is a rapidly expanding economy making up for decades of neglect and communism and it has attracted vast levels of investment and help.
But it is still true that the UK is falling down the league tables of economic strength very rapidly. It is even worse if you look at the poorest cohorts in the UK, they are already worse off than many East Europeans.
This has been the result of years of Tory policies, to make work pay; not by increasing wages but by slashing benefits, removing workers rights and cutting investment, by undermining the state and killing off productivity and growth with fantasy economics like Brexit and trickle down economics.
And it is continuing, the government is determined to continue down this road, it almost guarantees Polish success and British failure.
Anyone fancy a cleaning job in Warsaw? Better pay, cheaper cost of living, lovely people? What’s not to like?
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.